‘Magic Mushrooms’ Trigger Lasting Personality Change

[Magicman]

‘Magic Mushrooms’ Trigger Lasting Personality Change

http://breakthematrix.com/drugs/magic-mushrooms-trigger-lasting-personality-change

‘Magic Mushrooms’ Trigger Lasting Personality Change
DECEMBER 17, 2011 · 1 COMMENT
in DRUGS

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The psychedelic drug psilocybin (the active ingredient in “magic mushrooms”) may produce lasting, positive changes in personality, new research finds. People who took the drug showed increases in the key personality dimension of openness — being amenable to new ideas, experiences and perspectives — more than a year later.

“It was sort of like an anti-inflammatory for the ego,” says Brian, a 50-year-old scientist, who participated in the research (he declined to reveal his last name). “The swelling went down and I got to see what was underneath.”

Researchers led by Katherine MacLean, a postdoctoral student at Johns Hopkins University, analyzed personality data on 52 participants (average age 46) who had participated in the group’s earlier research on the drug. These volunteers took psilocybin during two to five sessions, at various doses, under highly controlled conditions at the hospital. They were also given personality tests before taking psilocybin, again a couple of months after each drug session, then again about a year later.

The earlier study had found positive psychological changes — documented by both participants and their family members and other associates — in calmness, happiness and kindness. The new research found that the drug takers also saw long-term changes to their underlying personality. “The most surprising thing was that we found a change in personality that is really not expected in healthy adults, not after such a discrete event,” says MacLean.

 

[CaptUSA]

It's been nearly 20 years since I last experimented with mushrooms, but I will never forget the lasting lessons I learned. It was an incredibly enlightening experience. I don't recommend using these drug for entertainment purposes, but they have great value if used properly.

 

[GuerrillaXXI]

The idea of chemically altering my personality, even in a positive way, doesn't appeal to me at all. But this is an interesting finding. Who knows? Maybe these mushrooms could be used to help people suffering from certain mental disorders more cheaply and effectively than commercial drugs.

Incidentally, I've never tried 'shrooms, but I did try acid a few times a couple of decades ago. My experiences were mostly positive, but I don't think any lasting change occurred.

 

[Bruno]

Used to grow them. I concur.

 

[Napolitanic Wars]

I've never done mushrooms. I did weed at a friends house, and I thought it was the most overrated substance on earth, but my friend said "Well you're so spacy anyway." So maybe mushrooms won't enlighten me more than I already am.

 

[ryanmkeisling]

It's been nearly 20 years since I last experimented with mushrooms, but I will never forget the lasting lessons I learned. It was an incredibly enlightening experience. I don't recommend using these drug for entertainment purposes, but they have great value if used properly.

This.^ I also do not encourage entheogenic use for entertainment, but I also have had positive results with them in the proper setting of course it is necessary to take a threshold dose. The penal gland in our brains can/does produce the most powerful of these substances.

 

[dannno]

I've never done mushrooms. I did weed at a friends house, and I thought it was the most overrated substance on earth, but my friend said "Well you're so spacy anyway." So maybe mushrooms won't enlighten me more than I already am.

It doesn't always work the first time for a lot of people and it clearly did not work for you at all. In fact I knew a guy who smoked bongload after bongload after bongload and could not get high the first 8 or 10 times, but that was really an extreme case. Around the 9th or 11th time it finally hit him like a ton of bricks and he went into another universe and we smoked almost every day after that for years. Now he is a programmer at Microsoft, still tokes.

 

[thoughtomator]

Shrooms and LSD are actually much more similar experiences, to the point where they are nearly interchangeable. Stoned and tripping are vastly different states of mind, although it's probably not coincidence that they work very well together. Also probably not coincidence that you pretty much can't get drunk on alcohol while tripping (although you can still poison yourself).

 

[Brian4Liberty]

If positive effects can be long lasting, then so can negative effects. A friend of a roommate in college had a bad trip on shrooms. He checked himself in to the hospital the next day, and spent a lot of time in counseling after that.

 

[oyarde]

Things of this nature can effect different people in different ways . People who have fear , are uptight or are nutty or assholes should partake in nothing.If you are free , happy and not consumed in some manner , it may be safe for you.If you are uncertain , why bother ? I would not wish my life upon any, yet I do not regret , because I have learned so much.

 

[angelatc]

Magic Mushrooms’ Trigger Lasting Personality Change

Now accepting donations!

 

[GregSarnowski]

Shrooms and LSD are actually much more similar experiences, to the point where they are nearly interchangeable.

I would have to disagree -- sure they're both psychedelics, but really they're two different chemicals with wildly varying effects. Honestly I find shrooms almost depressing and much prefer LSD.

This is probably as good a place as any to mention MDMA (ecstasy) showing incredible promise in helping PTSD suffers overcome their issues (in minute amounts).

 

[TheNung]

I've never done mushrooms. I did weed at a friends house, and I thought it was the most overrated substance on earth, but my friend said "Well you're so spacy anyway." So maybe mushrooms won't enlighten me more than I already am.

Was that the only time you smoked weed? From many of my friends' experiences, they didn't even feel high the first time. Then, the second time, well, I had to kick one out of my dorm because he was laughing uncontrollably. I was getting paranoid/annoyed because I just wanted to watch South Park and he wouldn't shut up.

I also met a kid who, for some reason, was completely unaffected by weed. Said he smoked and smoked over a week but never felt anything. I never smoked with him personally, though, so I can't confirm. He may just not have wanted to try it.

 

[RonPaulGeorge&Ringo]

If positive effects can be long lasting, then so can negative effects. A friend of a roommate in college had a bad trip on shrooms. He checked himself in to the hospital the next day, and spent a lot of time in counseling after that.

The shrooms probably made him remember he had been molested or something.